In Mediaset there is no room for joy. They have achieved what is already without a doubt the television signing of the year: Carlos Franganillo. After several months of fruitless searching, the audiovisual group has finally found the perfect journalist to replace the historic and more than reputable one. Pedro Piqueras as presenter of the evening edition of Telecinco’s Newscast and as news director of the network.
And hard blow for RTVEwhich loses one of the journalists most valued by public opinion, who, in addition, had managed to place the second edition of La 1’s Telediario among one of the most viewed information services, praised and respected by the audience. From what this periodical has been able to find out, RTVE has not made any decision on who to replace Franganillo. The journalist, for now, has taken a few days of vacation and will be replaced at the head of the evening News by his usual substitute, Ana Roldn.
In the objectives of the new Mediaset and, especially, of the new Telecincothere was an outstanding debt: news. After years in which information had been relegated to the background, with the audiovisual group losing any relevance in this aspect, Alessandro Salemthe CEO of Mediaset who replaced Paolo Vasile, arrived with a very clear idea: It was necessary to “promote and revolutionize the group’s news”.
To do this, first there was the signing of Francisco Moreno, Paco for those closest to him. Whoever was the sole administrator of Radiotelevisión Canaria (RTVC) arrived at Mediaset on October 20 as the group’s new News Director, replacing Juan Pedro Valentin, who became the news director of Cuatro. Moreno, architect of the great coverage of the eruption of the La Palma volcano, came with the directive to renew everything. Just a week after his arrival, the first idea that Moreno put on the table at the Mediaset leadership was, without hesitation for a moment, the signing of Carlos Franganillo.
So much Salem as the general director of Contents of Mediaset Spain, Manuel Villanueva, were enthusiastic about the proposal, although they saw it as almost impossible, given Franganillo’s strong connection with public television. And this is where the one who we are assured convinced the RTVE journalist to accept Mediaset’s proposal comes into play: Pedro Piqueras himself.
Franganillo and Piqueras are rivals, but above all they are great friends. A friendship that was forged many years ago and that has been maintained and consolidated over time. The RTVE journalist told this newspaper in an interview a few months ago that when he returned to Spain after several years as a correspondent in Washington, he felt very dizzy, but he received the support of his two rivals of the night, Vicente Valls and, especially, Pedro Piqueras, to whom, he says, he will always be immensely grateful. From here A personal relationship was born between Franganillo and Piqueras that has been key in the negotiation.
Francisco Moreno, director of Mediaset News, and Pedro Piqueras have been the two key pieces of the signing
In this way, and after there was unanimity from the Mediaset management to test FranganilloMoreno counted it Pedro Piqueras, who was excited that his replacement was not only such a valued journalist but one of his great friends. And because of that, This was the one who first picked up the phone to call Franganillo and make the proposal. There was then a first meeting between Piqueras and Franganillo in which Piqueras made him the offer and, a second, after verifying that there was a possibility of him accepting, to which he also already attended Francisco Moreno.
At that meeting, as this newspaper has learned, Franganillo, It has not been easy for him to make the decision since he leaves RTVE after 15 years on the public channel, “was delighted” with Moreno’s project for Mediaset Spain’s News. Few expected the good reception that there was from Franganillo, which produced a great surprise in the group not only because there were possibilities of signing the RTVE news reference but because of how quickly the entire negotiation could be closed. After that meeting between Piqueras, Moreno and Franganillo there were a couple more to close the last remaining fringes and The signing was closed in less than a month.
Francisco Moreno has always been clear that the management of the Telecinco News and the news of the prime time They needed a highly relevant journalist, respected inside and outside the sector, and who would put all his passion into the new project. A reliable and consolidated right hand. Franganillo was perfect. He guarantees that he is one of the most outstanding communicators of television information in our country due to his closeness and rigor, his versatility and his unique and didactic style to narrate the current events that have brought so much joy to RTVE -has been distinguished with a Waves and an Iris-. The project, therefore, fit perfectly with the journalist from Oviedo.
However, they insist that without the intervention of Piqueras the negotiation would have been difficult to reach a successful conclusion. When Moreno told Piqueras who he had thought of, The historic journalist insisted on being part of the negotiationWell, as sources familiar with the agreement assure, the election of Franganillo is the best and most beautiful transition that could be made to a journalist as renowned and important as Pedro Piqueras.
It is the best and most beautiful transition that could be made for a journalist as reputable and important as Pedro Piqueras.
Furthermore, Moreno, the brain that made this signing possible, has a very clear idea in his head for the News: you have to go out into the streets, you have to do reporting, you have to be where the news is and do it using all the means. within reach. and in this Franganillo is one of the greatest references as he has demonstrated with the war in Ukraine or more recently with the investiture of Pedro Sánchezwith applauded coverage.
For the moment, he is still Telecinco’s News Director, thus taking over from Franganillo after announcing that he will retire from the small screen by his own decision at the end of the year, as as he himself agreed with the company months ago. In this way, with the arrival of Franganillo, Piqueras will end his brilliant professional career after spending the last 17 years at Mediaset Spain.
The agreement also establishes that Carlos Franganillo will join Mediaset starting in January -although there is not yet a set day-, thus coinciding with the launch of the new Mediaset News.
The post first appeared on www.elmundo.es
